Similarly,
Swiss law prohibits hens glasses:
This film was not shot in Switzerland. Consequently,
Copyright Walt Disney Co. Moreover, / Courtesy Everett / Everett CollectionIt is often heard that Switzerland is. Nevertheless, distinguished by legislation more respectful of animals than that of other countries. In addition, But is this really the case? Meanwhile, The example of the prohibition of contact glasses and lenses for the hens is indicative. Meanwhile, – Swiss law prohibits hens glasses
Some time ago. In addition, the swiss law prohibits hens glasses British show Quite interesting of the BBC published on its Facebook pageExternal link An amazing anecdote about Switzerland: “In Switzerland, it is illegal to force domestic poultry to wear glasses or contact lenses.”
You might think that the editorial staff was wrong. Therefore, Contact lenses and chicken glasses prohibited by law? Therefore, Really?
And yet, this is the case. Additionally, Therefore, Article 20 on animal protectionExternal link (Opan) lists prohibited interventions on domestic poultry. Similarly, Among these: “Place them with glasses or contact lenses or auxiliary means which prevent the closure of the beak”.
Behind this arrangement. Similarly, one should not imagine a court decision sanctioning a breeder converted into an amateur optician with embarrassing results for animals. Nevertheless, It is a serious measure, linked to a practice still authorized in certain countries, although less and less widespread.
Cannibal hens – Swiss law prohibits hens glasses
As Sibel Konyo explains the Zurich Foundation Tier Im Recht (shooting) – whose objective is to improve the relationship between humans. Nevertheless, animals from a legal, ethical and social point of view – the use of glasses and contact lenses on poultry is an attempt to adapt birds to breeding conditions that are not “respectful of animals”.
Indeed. Consequently, when hens and roosters are confined to restricted spaces without stimulation, they can be injured in each other and develop cannibal behavior. However, To avoid this, certain practices consist in cutting their beak. Another method is to swiss law prohibits hens glasses make them wear “glasses” – not to improve their sight. but to reduce it, using red glasses or blinders.
The idea at the origin of colored lenses. born in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, was to prevent poultry from distinguishing the color of blood, at the sight of which hens and roosters, it was said, became more aggressive.
>> Cinéjournal of 1947 on chickens of the American American manufacturer Band and Tag Company:
However. “the application of these devices – using a pliers or a needle that pierces the beak – is painful for animals, which may also strike the objects on their way that they can no longer see,” explains Sibel Konyo.
Contact lenses have the same goal. In the 1980s. in the United States, animal society patentedExternal swiss law prohibits hens glasses link and promoted the use of red contact lenses for poultry.
Animalens praised the alleged advantages of this invention: greater egg production. less consumption of animal food and reduced mortality. However. subsequent studies have demonstratedExternal link that the only notable characteristic which distinguished a laying of laying hens equipped with contact lenses of a lenses without lenses was the eye infections.
Swiss law prohibits hens glasses
A lexical curiosity – Swiss law prohibits hens glasses
It is therefore not surprising that Switzerland. as part of a major modification of the OPAN in force since 2008, introduced this ban.
However, it should be noted that similar rules already swiss law prohibits hens glasses existed in other countries, including the United Kingdom. But we cannot blame the BBC for having presented this standard as a Swiss specificity. British lawExternal link Use more technical terms: “It is prohibited to apply any device with the aim. effect of limiting the view of a bird by a method involving the perforation or mutilation of the nasal partition”.
“Glasses for hens” are therefore a curiosity which is more of the lexical than legal domain. and which is probably due to the simpler and direct language used in Switzerland (see box).
A recent study on the differences between the Italian spoken in Switzerland. that used in Italy had highlighted the greatest clarity of Swiss laws.
“The official texts of the Swiss Confederation swiss law prohibits hens glasses in Italian are almost always translations of texts in German or French. However. surprisingly, this is not an obstacle, but rather an opportunity for their communicative quality, “underlined in September 2024 the Angela Rossi linguistics professor of the University of Basel, who conducted the study.
Confederation’s translators act as attentive “controllers”. that is to say that they check if the source text is coherent and clear, and make the necessary corrections if necessary. Official texts of a normative nature are translated as the originals are produced. discussed and possibly reformulated during the various parliamentary sessions, Angela Rossi explained to Keystone-Ats.
Animal dignity
Even if the ban on hens glasses is not a Swiss exclusivity. Switzerland is indeed distinguished by strict legislation in matters of animal welfare.
The best known example is that of the guinea pig: within the Confederation, it is prohibited to have only one. swiss law prohibits hens glasses Indeed. these are social animals which, like rabbits, ferrets or parrots, suffer if they are not in the company of a congener.
This standard entered into force with the Revision of the Opan in 2008. itself drawn up in the wake of the major modification of the corresponding federal law in 2005.
This revision is considered to be a great success in the Swiss animal protection. many of the claims of which have been integrated into the text, explained its director of the time, Heinz Linhard, in an interview swiss law prohibits hens glasses with Swissinfo.
According to Sibel Konyo. the most important aspect and which constitutes a Swiss particularity is the introduction, with the revision of 2005, of the concept of “animal dignity” (art. 3 a, lpaExternal link). “The protection of animal dignity represents an important step. a step towards a biochentic dimension, which recognizes the animals a legally protected value independently of their capacity for perception”, explains the expert, who considers however that there is an important margin of improvement.
“For example. due to the absence of a specific criminal provision, such as that contained in German animal protection law, killing an animal without valid reason remains unpunished by Swiss law,” she explains.
An authorization for 300 Gerbilles per year
The legislative machine did not stop between 2008 and today. One of the latest OPAN modifications, introduced in February 2025, is remarkable for its Swiss precision. It fixes the swiss law prohibits hens glasses number of animals that can be sold each year to third parties. beyond which the operator of a farm is required to request a cantonal authorization.
“Three hundred mice, rats, hamsters or gerbilles”, stipulates for example the point 4. An already remarkable precision. but which seems almost modest in front of point 7: “Descendants of more than 25 couples of birds of maximum size equivalent to that of a Calopsitte parakeet, more than ten couples of birds of size greater than that of the Calopsitte wisers or more than five couples or cacatoès ”.
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Swiss parliamentarians therefore continue to actively legislate in favor of animals. even if, sometimes, this is done in a slightly less solemn atmosphere.
“We have become a zoo by dint of talking about animals. ” said former senator Géraldine Savary ironically in 2015 during a debate on the importation of sharks. Shortly after. when she had to invite the plenary assembly to approve a motion aimed at fighting against a disease affecting sheep (the trampling) she could not repress a laugh.
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Reread. verified by Daniele Mariani / Translated from Italian by Katy Romy with automatic translation toolse
Swiss law prohibits hens glasses
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